Releasing device



Patented Dec. 31, 1946 Unire .er r

RELEASIN G DEVICE Application November 23, 1944, Serial No. 564,838

6 Claims. l

This invention relates to a releasing device which operates automatically. This releasing clevice is useful for releasing mines from a cable by drawing them through the Water or for releasing parachutes that may have been dropped from an airplane, for example.

In carrying out the invention, the releasing mechanism is adapted to be operated by a device which may include propellers that revolve in opposite directions or by a device that is released by impact with the ground.

The invention may be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawing of which Fig. l is a longitudinal section through an illustrated embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of a portion of Fig. 1 showing parts in a diierent position.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, reference characters I and 2 indicate propellers having blades I and 2', these blades being so shaped and located that the propellers revolve in opposite directions when drawn through water.

A hollow shaft 3 is provided to which the propeller I is securely attached and a hollow shaft 4 is provided to which the propeller 2 is securely attached, the shaft 4 extending into an opening in the upper end of the shaft 3. A piston 5 extends into an opening in the upper end of the shaft 4. A cross pin 6 is located in the lower portion of the piston 5 and V-shaped notches 'I are provided in the end of the hub of propeller I to receive this cross pin i5. A circular opening 8 is provided in the lower end of the hub 2 to receive the cross pin 6. Threaded end l of the shaft 4 is screwed into a propeller nut II. This nut is provided with a threaded recess I2 in which a release housing I3 is screwed. A receiver or opening I is provided in the lower portion of the housing I3, this opening communicating with two openings I5 that are shaped like and extend from the opening I5 through the remainder of the housing I3 parallel to the center line of the device. Screw-threaded plugs Il with screwdriver slots therein are provided for closing the upper ends of the openings I6.

A U-shaped member 20 is provided with arms 2| that extend into the openings I6 from below. Semi-circular transverse grooves 22 are provided along the inner sides of the arms 2| and a conical recess 23 is provided in the outer end of one of the arms 2i. A spring-pressed pin 24 is lo- 2 f housing I3 and has a conical head that is adapted to enter the recess 23.

cated in a hole in the 29 are provided in opposite sides of the pin 28, v

these notches corresponding to the notches 22. Cylindrical rollers 30 are located between the pin 28 and the arms 2|.

A compression spring 3| is provided between the bottom of the member 20 and an opening in the lower end of the pin 28. A shoulder 32 on the pin 28 normally bears against the upper surface of the housing I3. A swivel ring 33 is provided for the pin 28 and a cable or parachute line 34 is attached to the ring 33.

The operation of the embodiment 0f the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is as follows:

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is drawn by the cable 34 which may be attached to an airplane, parachute or other traction device. When the propellers I and 2 strike the water one of them is caused to turn in one direction and the other one in the other direction. This causes the pin 6 to ride out of the slot II, thus moving the piston 5 farther into the housing I3 as indicated in Fig. 2. .This causes the semi-circular notches 22 and 29 to become aligned so that the rollers 30 slip into the notches 22 and out of the notches 29, as shown in Fig. 2. Thereupon, the spring 3| pushes the pin 28 out of the housing I3, thus releasing the cable from the torpedo (not shown) that is attached to the shaft 4.

What is claimed is:

1. A releasing device comprising in combination two concentric, cylindrical members, a compression spring and a catch to hold said members in assembled relation, relatively rotatable means for disconnecting said members including relatively rotatable members adapted to be operated by being drawn through water and means actuated by the relative rotation of one of said members with respect to the other one to release said catch 2. The device of claim l in which said relatively rotatable members comprise two propllers.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said catch comprises rollers and one of said cylindrical members is provided with grooves for said rollers.

4.- The device of claim 1 in which one of said cylindrical members has a swivel ring attached thereto.

5. A device of the character described comprsi'ng a. housing, a movable U-shaped member in said housing, a longitudinally movable member between the arms of said U-shaped member, a compression spring between said U-shaped member and said longitudinally movable member, a. catch between said longitudinally movable member and said U-shaped member, a piston for moving said U-shaped member to release said catch, and propellers adapted to be driven in opposite directions and move said piston longitudinally when said propellers are drawn through water.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said catch ,comprises a roller. 

